Breast tumor bank: An important resource for developing translational cancer research in Romania

Issue title: An update from the Romanian international meeting “Cancer molecular pathobiology in the clinics: Highlights”

Guest editors: Ioana Berindan Neagoex and Angelo Paradisoy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Braicu, Cornelia^a | Berindan-Neagoe, Ioana^{a; b; c; *} | Pileczki, Valentina^{a; d} | Cojocneanu-Petric, Roxana^{a; e} | Pop, Laura-Ancuţa^a | Puscas, Emil^{f; g} | Mattioli, Eliseo^h | Irimie, Alexandru^{f; g} | Buiga, Rares^g

Affiliations: [a] The Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [b] Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [c] Department of Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [d] Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [e] Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [f] Department of Surgical Oncology, The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [g] Department of Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | [h] National Cancer Research Center, Istituto Tumori G Paolo II, Bari, Italy | [x] The University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj, Napoca, Romania | [y] National Cancer Research Center, Istituto Tumori G Paolo II, IRCCS, Bari, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Ioana Berindan-Neagoe, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta", Republici, no 34-36, RO-400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. E-mail: ioananeagoe29@gmail.com.

Abstract: The development of a breast tumor bank facilitates translational research. Easy access to biological specimens allows scientists to translate the outcomes of basic science into clinically useful knowledge. The breast tumor bank is particularly useful for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) that is sporadic but exhibits the worst prognosis. It serves as a national resource that includes biological samples of paraffin-embedded and frozen tumor tissue with corresponding pathological and clinical data. During the first two years, the bank has accrued data and samples from more than 254 breast cancer cases. Based on this information, we observed a higher number of samples with ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) positive and negative for Her2. Also, 30% of the total number of cases was defined as TNBC. The use of tumor banks in research and diagnosis allows for the design of different studies that can bring reliable results that may improve the lives of patients, especially those diagnosed with TNBC.

Keywords: Breast cancer, tumor bank, clinicopathologic features

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-130309

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 14, no. 2-3, pp. 119-127, 2014